Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to introduce compulsory (a) calorie labelling and (b) nutritional information for foods purchased (i) from takeaway venues and (ii) via apps.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department has consulted on how the policy on calorie labelling for food and drink served outside of the home by large out-of-home sector businesses, with 250 or more employees, should be enforced and is considering what the final enforcement position should be. We will introduce legislation shortly.
There are no current plans to introduce further compulsory nutrition labelling on foods purchased in the out-of-home sector.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of food ordered on UK food delivery apps in the last 12 months that is classified as high in fat, sugar and salt.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No specific assessment has been made.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to exempt SME food and drink manufacturers from proposed restrictions on online advertising of foods high if fat, sugar and salt.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for products high in fat, salt and sugar asked a question on the impact of the proposals on small businesses and we are engaging with industry to understand these in more detail to factor in the final policy decision. We will publish the response to the consultation shortly.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the consumption of foods that are designated high in fat, salt or sugar over the last 18 months.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Public Health England monitors the diet and nutritional status of the population through the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). The NDNS reports on the contribution of different food groups to consumption of fat, salt and sugar. For foods designated high in fat, sugar or salt, trend data is only available for certain high sugar foods. For children and adults aged 19-64 years old, data shows a reduction in the average consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks between 2014-2016 and 2016-2019 but no statistically significant changes for sugar or chocolate confectionery over this period. The most recent report was published in December 2020 and is available at the following link:
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of the proportion of foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar that are consumed (a) in home and (b) out of home over the last 18 months.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Public Health England has made no such assessment.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including out of home food in his (a) obesity strategy and (b) plans for the restrictions of advertising and promotion of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There has been no central assessment of the levels of consumption of take-away food during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We carefully consider all views and potential impacts of our measures to reduce obesity. This includes feedback from a wide range of experts and stakeholders on specific policy proposals and in response to our public consultations. The final impact assessment on mandating calorie labelling of food and drink in the out-of-home sector is available at the following link:
The final impact assessments on the proposals to restrict the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) by location and by volume is available at the following link:
The developmental impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online was published alongside the 2019 consultation on this policy. This is available at the following link:
An evidence note was published alongside the consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for HFSS products. This builds on the impact assessment that accompanied the 2019 consultation. This is available at the following link:
We will publish the final impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online alongside the full response to the consultation shortly.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his (a) obesity strategy and (b) plans for the restriction of advertising and promotion of foods that are high in far, salt or sugar of the increased consumption of take-away food during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There has been no central assessment of the levels of consumption of take-away food during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We carefully consider all views and potential impacts of our measures to reduce obesity. This includes feedback from a wide range of experts and stakeholders on specific policy proposals and in response to our public consultations. The final impact assessment on mandating calorie labelling of food and drink in the out-of-home sector is available at the following link:
The final impact assessments on the proposals to restrict the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) by location and by volume is available at the following link:
The developmental impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online was published alongside the 2019 consultation on this policy. This is available at the following link:
An evidence note was published alongside the consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for HFSS products. This builds on the impact assessment that accompanied the 2019 consultation. This is available at the following link:
We will publish the final impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online alongside the full response to the consultation shortly.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle and reduce demand for illegal online gambling.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data released by the Gambling Commission in May 2020 suggested that the scale of the black market had remained low and stable, with little variation in the number of complaints it had received about illegal gambling websites over the previous 12 months. The Commission’s enforcement approach includes working with web hosting companies and search engines to remove sites or prevent them appearing on searches, and working with payment providers to prevent payments to unlicensed operators. It also has powers to prosecute or refer issues to partner agencies such as HMRC where necessary.
The government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 has called for evidence on issues around unlicensed gambling, and we are aware of the recent report commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council. We are also consulting on a proposed uplift to Gambling Commission licence fees, which will strengthen the resources it has to identify the scale of and tackle illegal gambling.
The Gambling Commission requires operators to monitor play and to intervene where players may be at risk of harm. Its consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction is considering whether further requirements are needed for how operators identify and interact with customers who may be at risk.
The Commission will be led by the evidence it receives in deciding its next steps, and its findings may also inform its advice to government on the Gambling Act Review. Following a one month extension to allow extra evidence to be submitted, the deadline for submissions is now 9 February.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the size of the illegal gambling market in the UK.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data released by the Gambling Commission in May 2020 suggested that the scale of the black market had remained low and stable, with little variation in the number of complaints it had received about illegal gambling websites over the previous 12 months. The Commission’s enforcement approach includes working with web hosting companies and search engines to remove sites or prevent them appearing on searches, and working with payment providers to prevent payments to unlicensed operators. It also has powers to prosecute or refer issues to partner agencies such as HMRC where necessary.
The government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 has called for evidence on issues around unlicensed gambling, and we are aware of the recent report commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council. We are also consulting on a proposed uplift to Gambling Commission licence fees, which will strengthen the resources it has to identify the scale of and tackle illegal gambling.
The Gambling Commission requires operators to monitor play and to intervene where players may be at risk of harm. Its consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction is considering whether further requirements are needed for how operators identify and interact with customers who may be at risk.
The Commission will be led by the evidence it receives in deciding its next steps, and its findings may also inform its advice to government on the Gambling Act Review. Following a one month extension to allow extra evidence to be submitted, the deadline for submissions is now 9 February.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Gambling Commission to ensure their consultation on remote customer interaction is considered in parallel with the Government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data released by the Gambling Commission in May 2020 suggested that the scale of the black market had remained low and stable, with little variation in the number of complaints it had received about illegal gambling websites over the previous 12 months. The Commission’s enforcement approach includes working with web hosting companies and search engines to remove sites or prevent them appearing on searches, and working with payment providers to prevent payments to unlicensed operators. It also has powers to prosecute or refer issues to partner agencies such as HMRC where necessary.
The government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 has called for evidence on issues around unlicensed gambling, and we are aware of the recent report commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council. We are also consulting on a proposed uplift to Gambling Commission licence fees, which will strengthen the resources it has to identify the scale of and tackle illegal gambling.
The Gambling Commission requires operators to monitor play and to intervene where players may be at risk of harm. Its consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction is considering whether further requirements are needed for how operators identify and interact with customers who may be at risk.
The Commission will be led by the evidence it receives in deciding its next steps, and its findings may also inform its advice to government on the Gambling Act Review. Following a one month extension to allow extra evidence to be submitted, the deadline for submissions is now 9 February.